Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-05-16

too sOoni-that her whole life was
sacrificed TO one whose taste for the ac-
cursed stimulants of liquor far exceed
ed his love for the woman he professed
to adore. Year after year passed on,
adding TO this fatal taste additional
strength. No caresses of sweet-voiced
lovely little children, no delights of
| home, were half so dear to this nan as
the one infatuation of his life
This girl, always mature in mind,
! and far his superior in nature, left no
means untried to save him. She was
very attractive in manner, converse
ton, and person, and all her attrac-
lions were put in force to save him.
She concealed his habit OF intemper-
. ance for years. She kept his faults to
herself. She never breathed aught
| against him. She upheld him,
strengthened him, counselled him. If
woman's influence could have saved
him he would have been saved.
81 have seen her home taken from
her. Her children and herself wan
dering from one place to another, as
she could best earn their support; and
this man, seemingly devoid of human
feelings, leaving her to her own re-
sources, while wealthy relations cared
for him.
This woman was very near and
dear to me, and nothing upon earth
could induce me to put myself in sub
lection to the possibility of such fate.
You have my true friendship, my
best wishes for your welfare, my sim
cere prayers that you may conquer in
this fiery trial, but dare not give you
more. God only knows how hard this
is for me to say to you. How willing
ly would | share your fate in poverty,
in any ordinary trial of life; but /
dare not, for mine own souls sake, say
take your life, whatever it may be
for NINE. And SO, Harry, let us speak
of this no more"
She held out her hand. He caught
it. He drew her impulsively toward
him. He held her for an instant close
ly.
Margaret" he said, 'let nae kiss
you once"
And before she could reply his burn
ing lips touched her pure cool brow.
God bless you, Margaret, whatever
becomes of mer
In another instant he was gone.
She passed through the garden-walk
into the pleasant porch, and stood
moment before the open parior-win-
dow, where an old gentleman rested in
an easy chair.
1T is II lovely night, father" she
said; ''but i will 90 to my room, be-
lieve. | am very weary tonight.
Good nightn'
Good night, my daughter!"
And Margaret went us usual with
ner stately step to her cham5er-door;
but once within its solitude, and the
proud resolved spirit was bowed in
! bitter sorrow.
How she had loved this man! And
her whole frame shook with the sobs
she dared not vent loudly, and the
| tears rushed down the proud beautiful
face. Must she thus condemn him,
and was there no hope for him?
He was student of medicine, study
ing of late with her father, and an
eager, apt student He had come into
the quiet life of this girl as a bright
sunbeam. His quick active intellect
| aroused her from the ordinary rou-
tine of her usual life.
His tastes harmonised with her
own, and she had given him her heart
entirely.
Then, one day, she learned that the
| fatal habit of stimulating his energies
when exhausted by study or fatigue
had become a necessity to him, and the
interview we have just related was the
decision at which she had arrived.
She was a girl of no ordinary char
acter. Her clear good sense, with the
intimate knowledge of her friends
life, taught her to doubt the influence
she could WELD against the triunphal
Juggernaut, whose victims can never
be numbered.
Harry Norton left the village for the
distractions of life in great city.
Now and then news came of him as a
clever successful practitioner, accom-
panied with doubtful surmises as to
certain changes in his habits of life
vague speeches, meaning, perhaps,
much or little.
Margaret's life flowed quietly on;
her father, yielding to the infirmities of
old age, demanded her care and atten-
ton.
Perhaps close observers might detect
a shade of sadness now and then in
those clear grey eyes, but she was not
one of those who live solely for their
own pleasure, and no one in all the
village was more relied upon in sorrow
or trouble as a kind sympathiser than
she.
A young clergyman who settled in
the parish was soon obseryant of this
strong, self-reliant nature-this tender
daughter and kind friend Margaret
was NOT doomed tn 1.-Two a Soli+arx Efo